Wholesale Civilian Evacuation Follows Night of Tension: Armed Forces Leave Hankow, Aug. 6.
ENSION heightened here this afternoon as the marine patrols in the Japanese Concession strengthened the sandbag barri~ cades which had been built across roads facing the Chinese area, while heavily-manned Japanese armoured-cars patrolled the streets or were posted in readiness throughout the Concession.
In the Chinese area, Chinese troops were posted in readiness behind the recently constructed sandbag barricades and in the concrete pill-boxes at the road intersections near the Japanese Concession.
The last batch of Japanese women and children, totalling 400, are leaving port to-morrow morning in a steamer bound for Foreign "residents living in the JSapenese Concession and lis vicinity have been warned to evacuate immediately, while Chinese residents have been hurriedly making for spe-lal Chinese areas. British and other foreign consulates are fully prepared Hor any eventuality, having previously. arranged. concentration areas for {heir nationals.
"No incidents have occurred so far.
certain amount of anxiety was Jeaused last night when lights in the Japanese Concession were extinguish-
[Chinese troops in overwhelming, numbers had the area surrounded three sides.'These Chinese forces, estimated at 10,000 men, this morning! [began cutting down trees along the boundary road, At the same time, another group moved into the adjoin: ing former German Concession and mounted machine-guns on roof-tops, overlooking Japanese defence posi tions at street intersections.
"The order to all residents to store their belonging igs In the warehouse. of the Japanese Residents' Corporation, Sebetween the hours of 10 and for the purpose of defence pracUce might, gain went nto. effect thi which was temporarily remanded last tee for the mereine Dowel: acme "Chinese ste sponsible for, the] rhe omeiat Explanation ministrative district misinterpreted Shanghai, Aug. the blackout, immediately put stronger 'The evacuation of the' Japar guards in their pill-boxes and took, Concession In Hankow was' ordered other precautions. by the Foreign Office in a desire to prevent the outbreak of an incident Normal by Midnight that would aggravate the genera 7 The populace in the vicinity had situation, Domei was. infamied yes anxious hour, but complete normality terday by Japanese oficial circles in was restored by midnight. It war Shanghai. "The officials emphatically understood that the Chinese author!- denied the reports that the Japanese tes were aware beforehand that this Concession is being handed over practice would take place, but a the Chinese authorities hitch occurred which prevented their What really happened, they warning from reaching the adjoining plained, was that the Chinese Chinese district. orities were requested by the Japanese Interviewed by the "Central Chins Consulate-General in Hankow to give Post," the Japanese Congul-General sefurances regarding the security. of stated that the Japanese Commander-Jepanese property in the Concession, in-Chief had an interview recently The withdrawal of Japanese residents, with General Ho Cheng-chun, the from Hankow, it was emphasized, [Chinese garrison commander, at which in no way different from the exodus fetch side declared that it bad no lof Japanese from Chungking, Soochow Intention of attacking the other. fend Hangchow, each of which has a "Tne Consul-Gener: Japanese concession. that the Japanese had strict Orders to evacuate Hankow, Dome! from Tokyo to abide by the Cabin was informed, were issued because of decisions and not to do anything on the steadily growing tension.
At the their own initiative. fend of July the situation was further Asked whether the Japanese would aggravated by the action of the Chi-defend their Concession in the event reve Tvs 'Guild in ordering a of a Chinese attempt at occupation, he [boycott of Japanese good: and said: "There need be no doubt on suspension of transactions with the Japanese. Fuel was added to the fre: bby' the construction of defence works Wholesale Evacuation im Chinese streets bordering on the Hankow, Concession "by. the Five hundred women and children Jepanese Chinese left this morning for Shanghai in the micials said. 'The s. Ching Yang Maru and the s, Feng movement' was also Yang Maru. About five hundred men, fanned by the City Tangpu and such with the exception of about eighty fanti-Japanese-bodies as. the. Society /Ex-Servicermen who have been pressed for the Encouragment of Resistance into a volunteer force, have been ordered to proceed to the N.K.A. hulk Enemy. by 6 o'clock to-night. the Concession was believed {0 be in tension growing every hour,
"All Japanese residents have been Jdanger of a sudden attack. Therefore, instructed to store all their belongings the officials said, on the evening the warehouse of the local Japanese 'July 5, bluejackets were landed from Residents' Corporation. the Eleventh Torpedo Flotilla and "The Japanese sailors, landed here posted at positions facing the Chinese last night following the reinforcement entrenchments. of the Chinese troops, will remain in position until the evacuation of "Non-Aggravation" Policy civilians is completed. 'Thay will also In view of the seriousness of the be later withdrawn to the various situation, the Japanese acting Consul-Japanese naval vessels together "vith General' ordered all Japanese ihe. volunteers.
Jdents to evacuate the Concession, in "Three Chinese aeroplanes routed accordance with the Japanese Gov-over the Japanese concession at a low lornment's policy of sititude apparently observing the of the current crisis, the of. apanese "defence lines. The. local cials added. Japanese" Consular Japanese naval authorities declared authorities, Domei was informed state of emergency at 11 o'clock last will remain in Hankow for the time night when, they asserted, there were being to negotiate on the protection Sinereasing' indications" of a possible Jot Japanese private and public pro-Chinese attack on the concession—erty.
The officials recalled that the Nan-Civilian Evacuation Completed king Government and the Chinese authorities in Hankow have been Hankow, Aug. 7.
ant asked by the Japanese Embassy civilian Japanese and armed China and the Consulate. General in forces with the exception' of Con-the "Yangtze port to all ps. left Hankow at 5 sible assistance in carry out the Gelock this afternoon thus complet-ug the evacuation that got under way yesterday. Remaining were also Mankow Tension Eased the Japanese landing party ant_the Hankow, Aug. units of the Eleventh Torpedo Boat A general feeling of relief has The evacuating Japanese sailed by descended upon Hankow following the Shinyo Maru and the "Yoyang the evacuation of the Japanese Con= cession Maru, The gunboat Seta will convoy here by Japanese -urmed the vessels to Shanghai. forces as well as residents.
"The concession to-day presented a 'The last detachment of Japanese picture of feverish activity as the Dluejackets left yesterday. complet-residents rushed their belongings to ting the withdrawal, which was car-the warehouse of the Japanese Rest-ried out smoothly' and without a jéentst Corporation for storage. Along {the fringe of the Japanese settlement A force of 60 Chinese police have }were. marines, consular policemen now entered the Concession, in ae-Jand volunteers mounting a strong cordance with the request made by guard at. the boundaries, Japanese Japanese Consular officials, to safe-private and public property will be guard Japanese interests and pro-eft in the custody of the local Chinese authorities who will be re-"The transfer of administration is quested to assume responsibility for only a temporary measure which, It Me safe-Keeping with a view to an presumed, will be removed when eventual return to Japan after the the North China "incident" has been Present crisis is over. settled.
"The Japanese concession spent an For the time being there will be anxious night as it was realized that only one entrance to the Concession, and it willie open daily only from six in the morning until seven In the evening. All persons entering of leaving are Hable to be searched.
The Japanese area presented 6 desolate and somewhat pathetic picture when Reuter's correspondent foured the place. There were signs everywhere of hurried departure, such s half-finished meals on. tables, open and bare cupboards, and floors strewn with refuse. Many Sapenese. elid not even bother 0 lock up "the doors of their houses.
Meanwhile, foreigners living outlying disirlelp are returning to their homes, which they had previous
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.